Tigers Lose Heartbreaker to Little Giants

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers came into today's game tied for second place with three other teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference. They needed a win to remain only one game back of the league-leading College of Wooster. However, the Little Giants of Wabash presented themselves as a rather large road-block for the Tigers. Despite playing without junior captain Matt Berry, the Tigers played a hard-fought game that they seemed to control throughout. However, a few missed opportunities in regulation and a costly defensive error in the second overtime gave Wabash a 1-0 victory over the Tigers.

Soccer is not often referred to as a game of inches, but today that seemed to be the case for the Wittenberg Tigers. Playing extremely aggressive on offense, the Tigers were able to control the ball and outshoot their opponent by a whopping 20-8 margin. Despite outshooting the Little Giants, the Tigers were unable to push a goal across, as they saw a number of their shots bang off the goal posts. An inch to the right here, an inch to the left there, and an inch down here, and the Tigers would have been up 3-0. Despite not being able to push a goal across, the Tigers were kept in the game by sophomore goalkeeper Adam Horrocks, who came up with a number of great saves. Just as it seemed as if the Tigers would take their misfortunes on offense and hold for a tie, Wittenberg committed a costly error on defense. With seven minutes remaining in the second overtime, a diving Wittenberg defender deflected a Wabash cross into the Tiger goal for the game's only score.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 7-8 on the season and 4-2 in the NCAC. Wittenberg is back in action Saturday when they will take on Oberlin College in a key North Coast Athletic Conference match-up. With only three league games left, every one counts if the Tigers hope to play in the NCAC Tournament at the end of the season. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Bill Edwards Field.